ENGL 248 The Past is a Foreign Country

Prerequisite: English Composition Core or permission of instructor
How do we ethically engage with past cultures that don’t match the values of our own society? Should we separate the art from the artist when a creator is known to be racist, misogynist, homophobic, or just a downright terrible human being? What should we do with canonical works that reflect the prejudices and/or beliefs of their society—and why do those texts continue to have staying power while other, equally “great” works are ignored? The answer can’t just be to jettison it all, nor can we simply remake the past in our own image. So how do we confront the past in a respectful, responsible way?

Credits

3.0

Core

Ethics

Offered

Offered As Needed